California's population has surged by 233,000 residents in 2024, marking a strong recovery that brings the state close to its pre-pandemic peak. The latest U.S. Census Bureau data shows California's population reached 39,431,000 as of July 1, 2024, just 125,000 shy of its 2020 high of 39,556,000.
This marks the second consecutive year of population growth for the Golden State, following several years of decline during the pandemic era. The recovery suggests a reversal of the much-discussed "California exodus" that saw residents leaving for states like Texas and Florida between 2020-2022.
While California added the third-highest number of new residents among all states, its growth rate of 0.59% still lags behind the national average of 0.9%. Southern California housing market continues to be a key factor, with Florida and Texas leading in both raw population gains and percentage growth.
"There's the optimistic look that in the past year, we have seen the population increase...bigger increases than we have in a decade," notes Jeff Bellisario, executive director of the Bay Area Council Economic Institute. However, he adds that California is "still trying to claw back to where we were pre-pandemic."
The state's population rebound appears driven by two key factors: decreased outmigration to other states and continued strong international migration. This aligns with earlier data from the California Department of Finance, which had already indicated a reversal of population losses.
The national context shows remarkable growth as well, with the U.S. population surpassing 340 million - the fastest annual growth rate since 2001. The Census Bureau attributes this primarily to rising net international migration.
For California, the latest figures represent a notable turnaround from the pandemic period, when population losses led to the state losing a congressional seat in 2021, reducing its House representation from 53 to 52 seats.
While the recovery trend appears solid, experts suggest it may take several more years before California returns to robust population growth patterns seen in previous decades.